Writing-case



(No Model.)

o. E. ,HICKS/.7 n WRITING OASE.

Patented Apr. 30, 1889..

company it.

Yway the desired slope'or angle of inclination UN iTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HICKS, OF SOhflER-VILLE, MASSACIIUSET'IS.

WRITING-CASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 402,244, dated April 30, 1889.

Appiicaion inea' retmay is, i888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. IIicKs, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Somerville, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVriting-Cases; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appert-ains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to writing-cases, so called, composed of a rectangular slab of wood or other light material, usually provided l with a movable top to permit access to the interior, which is a hollow receptacle to contain Writing materials. In writing-cases of the above premised class the'article is generally, when in use, laid flat upon a table or other fixture.

The object of my inventionis, primarily, to employ such an attachment that the rear edge, or that opposite to but farthest from the person using said case, is capable of being adjusted in a vertical plane atpleasure. In this of the writing-case may readily be varied, while the attendant advantages, such as are derived from an ordinary sloping desk, ac-

Secondly, my invention consists in the mechanical arrangement of the several parts composing the writingfoase, which are such that they may be disengaged from each other and packed snugly away, more particularly since this class of writing-cases are much in use by persons traveling.

The drawings represent, in Figure l, a per-4 spective of a writing-case embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical 'sectional elevation of the case, the movable support being alsoshown partly in section.

In the accompanying drawings, A represents a table-top or fixture upon which the writingcase B as an entirety is to be placed, and by 4which it is to be supported when in use. Said Serial No. 264,490. (No model.)

leather-board, or analogous substances, preferably rectangular in shape, and made hollow or recessed at l) to contain writing materials. Access to the latter is had by means of amovable lid or cover, c, exteriorly faced with a blotting-pad or some absorbent material.

One objection hitherto to writing-cases of the above class is that the writing-surface has been horizontal, inasmuch as the writing-case has rested iiat upon the table or other support, and as an inclined or sloping surface affords greater facility for writing I have secured to the rear edge of the case, or that farthest from the writer and centrallypor thereabout, a metallic plate, D. The upper surface of this latter is preferably curved to better adapt it to support, by aid of two cui-ved pins, d d, also affixed in said edge at each end of the frame ci, pencils or pens, as may be desired. Furthermore, I have pivotally united this writingcase at e to a metal block, E, which is centrally bored and adapted to receive a vertical rod, h, upon which it slides. The position of said block is maintained or adjusted by the aid of a set-screw, c'.

To provide a steady support to the rear or elevated edge of the Writing-case, the rod h is mounted in a broad disk or base, C, circular or otherwise, said base resting upon the table, as shown. To render the writing-case peculiarly adapted for travelers, I have screwthreaded the lower extremity of the rod 7i; hence when it is to be packed away the latter may be unscrewed and slipped out from the component parts occupy little or no space.

To render the writing-case as an entirety Vmore complete, I have provided a support, g, upon which an inkstand, F, may be removably hung; but this arrangement may be omitted, if desired.

The operation of the apparatus is readily coinprehended. The individual places the writing-case before him upon a table, or wherever he proposes to write, adjusts the frame c to any desired angle by sliding the block E up or down upon the rod or post h, and then clamps it with the set-screw i.

I do not desire to be confined solely to a writing-case as regards the mechanism for mounting and adjusting the same, since a `block E, and in this condition the several IOO l. A writing-ease composed of the frame or slab o,with a plane writing-surface, c, and a plate, D, combined with the base C, the verbe pushed up to which permits the frame a to hang' vertically therefrom, it may then bo employed, in connection with a piece of silvered glass, as a mirror.

It is t0 be understood by the above-dej scribed mechanism Athat the angle of inclination in the Writing-case is not produced by a l swinging movement, since l am aware that many devices have been made in which such object is accomplished by and then swinging up the other. vention the rear or back edge moves in vertical planes,while the front edge advances toward or retreats from the supporting-post in a horizontal plane.

IVhat I desire to claim is hinging one edge In my 1ntical rod or standard 71, and the block E, adapted to slide upon the latter and pivotally united to the writing-ease frame n, substantially for purposes described. 2. The combination, with a table or other support, A, a stand composed of a base, C and removable rod 71 a sliding block, E, with its fastening-screw f1', of a writing-case, B, having curved pins (I d, and pivotally united to said block, whereby the rear part can be raised to change the inclination of said writing-ease, substantially as herein specified.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARL IS E. HICKS. Iitnessesz Il. E. LODGE, E. K. BovNToN. 

